Ball Tossing Assembly For Game Play

ABSTRACT

A ball tossing assembly for game play includes a rod having a bottom end, a top end and a perimeter surface extending between the top and bottom ends. The perimeter surface includes a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The rod comprises a resiliently bendable material. A basket is attached to the front side and is positioned adjacent to the top end. The basket has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A top side of the basket is open for receiving a ball. The depression is positioned between the basket and the bottom end. The rod is grippable adjacent to the bottom end and the top end flexed rearwardly above the depression to create forward biased tension at a bend point above the depression.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to ball tossing device and more particularly pertains to a new ball tossing device for use by a person to toss a ball into a catch basin for the purpose of playing a game.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to ball tossing devices whereby a person uses a hand-held tool to facilitate throwing a ball during gameplay.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a rod having a bottom end, a top end and a perimeter surface extending between the top and bottom ends. The perimeter surface includes a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. A length from the bottom end to the top end is between 6.0 inches and 12.0 inches. The rod comprises a resiliently bendable material. A basket is attached to the front side and is positioned adjacent to the top end. The basket has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A top side of the basket is open for receiving a ball. A depression is positioned in the back side and is positioned at least 4.0 inches from the bottom end. The depression is positioned between the basket and the bottom end. The rod is grippable adjacent to the bottom end and the top end flexed rearwardly above the depression to create forward biased tension at a bend point above the depression.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a ball tossing assembly for game play according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new ball tossing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the ball tossing assembly 10 for game play generally comprises a rod 12 has a bottom end 14, a top end 16 and a perimeter surface 18 extending between the top 16 and bottom 14 ends. The perimeter surface 18 includes a front side 20, a back side 22, a first lateral side 24 and a second lateral side 26. A length from the bottom end 14 to the top end 16 is between 6.0 inches and 12.0 inches. The rod 12 comprises a resiliently bendable material. The resiliently bendable material may include conventional materials used for toys and games such as plastics, elastomers, and the like.

A basket 28 is attached to the front side 22. The basket 28 is positioned adjacent to the top end 16. The basket 28 has a bottom wall 30 and a perimeter wall 32 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 30. A top side 34 of the basket 28 is open and is configured to receive a ball 36. The ball 36 may comprise any small ball having a diameter less than 1.5 inches and which will typically be less than 1.0 inches. The ball 36 may comprise a rubber, plastic or other conventional material for used for games. The basket 28 has a diameter at least equal to 0.5 inches and less than 1.5 inches and a depth between 100% and 200% of the diameter.

A depression 38 is positioned in the back side 22 and is positioned at least 4.0 inches from the bottom end 14. More particularly, the depression 38 is positioned between the basket 28 and the bottom end 14. The depression 38 has a concavely arcuate shape and is positioned to receive a person's thumb as shown in FIG. 6 to assist in aiming the basket 28 and bending the rod 12. A pair of flanges 40 is attached to the rod 12 wherein each of the first 24 and second 26 lateral sides has one of the flanges 40 attached thereto. The depression 38 is positioned between the flanges. The flanges help retain a person's thumb on the rod as well as provide rigidity at that portion of the rod to facilitate bending of the rod above the depression.

A plurality of finger grips 42 is positioned in the front side 20. The finger grips 42 are positioned between the bottom end 14 and the depression 38. The finger grips 42 are formed with a plurality of troughs 44 and raised areas 46. While the Figures show four raised areas 46, the finger grips 42 may include other embodiments such as one large raised area for the majority of a person's fingers followed by a single trough and raised area where the trough can receive the person's index finger to assist in aiming. Other gripping assisting structures may be utilized such a hand guard, attached to the rod 12 with a hand opening to receive a user's hand, which extends around a person's hand to prevent the person's hand from slipping off of the rod 12.

A hold 48 is attached to the top end 16 to facilitate gripping of the top end 16. In one embodiment, the hold 48 extends outwardly from the top end 16 in lateral, forward and rearward directions. Other variations may extend only laterally from the rod 12. The hold 48 comprises a plate having an upper surface 50 that is planar. A longitudinal axis of the rod 12 extending through the top 16 and bottom 14 ends extends through and is orientated perpendicular to the upper surface 50.

In use, the ball 36 is placed in the basket 28 and the rod 12 is gripped adjacent to the bottom end 14 and the top end 16 flexed rearwardly above the depression 38 as shown in FIG. 6. This will create forward biased tension at a bend point above the depression 38. When the top end 16 is released, the top end 16 moves forward to eject the ball 36 forward. The user will aim to attempt to eject the ball 36 toward a target, such as a catch basin 52. In this way, a game may be played wherein players attempt to score by flinging the ball 36 from the basket 28 to the catch basin 52.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A ball throwing assembly to facilitate a game of tossing a ball into a catch basin, the assembly comprising: a rod having a bottom end, a top end and a perimeter surface extending between the top and bottom ends, the perimeter surface including a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, a length from the bottom end to the top end being between 6.0 inches and 12.0 inches, the rod comprising a resiliently bendable material; a basket being attached to the front side, the basket being positioned adjacent to the top end, the basket having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a top side of the basket being open and configured to receive a ball, the top side being defined by a circular edge of the perimeter wall, the circular edge being positioned within a plane perpendicular to the rod wherein the basket opens facing towards the top end of the rod; a depression being positioned in the back side, the depression being positioned at least 4.0 inches from the bottom end, the depression being positioned between the basket and the bottom end; and wherein the rod is grippable adjacent to the bottom end and the top end flexed rearwardly above the depression to create forward biased tension at a bend point above the depression.
 2. The ball throwing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the basket has a diameter at least equal to 0.5 inches and less than 1.5 inches, the basket having a depth between 100% and 200% of the diameter.
 3. The ball throwing assembly according to claim 1, further including a plurality of finger grips being positioned in the front side, the finger grips being positioned between the bottom end and the depression.
 4. The ball throwing assembly according to claim 1, further including a hold being attached to the top end to facilitate gripping of the top end.
 5. The ball throwing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the hold extends outwardly from the top end such that the hold is extended partially over the top side of the basket.
 6. The ball throwing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the hold comprises a plate having an upper surface being planar, a longitudinal axis of the rod extending through the top and bottom ends extending through and being orientated perpendicular to the upper surface.
 7. The ball throwing assembly according to claim 1, further including a pair of flanges, each of the first and second lateral sides having one of the flanges attached thereto, the depression being positioned between the flanges.
 8. A ball throwing assembly to facilitate a game of tossing a ball into a catch basin, the assembly comprising: a rod having a bottom end, a top end and a perimeter surface extending between the top and bottom ends, the perimeter surface including a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, a length from the bottom end to the top end being between 6.0 inches and 12.0 inches, the rod comprising a resiliently bendable material; a basket being attached to the front side, the basket being positioned adjacent to the top end, the basket having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a top side of the basket being open and configured to receive a ball, the top side being defined by a circular edge of the perimeter wall, the circular edge being positioned within a plane perpendicular to the rod wherein the basket opens facing towards the top end of the rod, the basket having a diameter at least equal to 0.5 inches and less than 1.5 inches, the basket having a depth between 100% and 200% of the diameter; a depression being positioned in the back side, the depression being positioned at least 4.0 inches from the bottom end, the depression being positioned between the basket and the bottom end; a plurality of finger grips being positioned in the front side, the finger grips being positioned between the bottom end and the depression; a hold being attached to the top end to facilitate gripping of the top end, the hold extending outwardly from the top end such that the hold is extended partially over the top side of the basket, the hold comprising a plate having an upper surface being planar, a longitudinal axis of the rod extending through the top and bottom ends extending through and being orientated perpendicular to the upper surface; a pair of flanges, each of the first and second lateral sides having one of the flanges attached thereto, the depression being positioned between the flanges; wherein the rod is grippable adjacent to the bottom end and the top end flexed rearwardly above the depression to create forward biased tension at a bend point above the depression. 